ABSTRACT
In Europe, national markets for healthcare workers are characterized by an asymmetry between supply and demand, that is, a shortage of skilled labor that varies from country to country. This shortage situation is leading to an increasing reliance on qualified foreign workers. Switzerland represents an extreme case of reliance on qualified foreign workers, particularly in the health sector. On the basis of two sets of interviews, our study aims at understanding the cultural dynamics in the integration of foreign workers. We adopt a multilevel approach of culture following Schein’s tradition integrating national, organizational, and occupational elements. The first part of the chapter defines our approach to cultural integration and the cultural and institutional specificities of the Swiss working environment. In a second part, we present the methodological aspects of our study. In a third section, we present the results of our study on the national cultural specificities of the occupational roles in the health sector. In the fourth section, we present the types of HR measures implemented by Swiss public organizations to facilitate integration processes.
